Christiana Rotary - The Rotary Foundation

Promoting Rotary's goal of world peace, goodwill, and understanding, The Rotary Foundation's Educational Programs include Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, Group Study Exchange, and Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution, and Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program.

Ambassadorial Scholarships

The Rotary Foundation’s Ambassadorial Scholarships Program is the world's largest private sponsor of university-level international scholarships. Awarded under this program are the following:

Academic year ambassadorial scholarships - awarded for one academic year of study abroad

Multi-year ambassadorial scholarships - awarded for two years of specific degree-oriented study abroad

Cultural ambassadorial scholarships - awarded for three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion abroad

Rotary grants for University teachers - awarded to higher education faculty to teach at universities or colleges of their choice in low-income countries

Group Study Exchange

One of the most popular and rewarding programs of The Rotary Foundation is the Group Study Exchange. Under this program, teams of non-Rotarian business and professional people venture abroad for a four-to-six-week period to study the social, economic, business and cultural conditions of their host countries, and participate in homestay with Rotarians and their families. Matching Grants: Grants are made for educational or humanitarian projects sponsored and partially funded (at least 50%) by Rotary Clubs or districts in two or more countries.

One of the attractive features of GSE is the opportunity for the visiting team members to meet, talk and live with Rotarians and their families in a warm spirit of friendship and hospitality. Truly, the Group Study Exchange program has provided Rotarians with one of its most enjoyable, practical and meaningful ways to promote world understanding.

Rotary Grants For University Teachers

Rotary Grants for University Teachers provide funds to higher education faculty to travel abroad to teach at colleges and universities in developing countries. The program is intended to build international understanding and foster development while strengthening higher education in low-income countries. The program also aims to establish ties between higher education institutions, leading to the exchange of ideas and information across the globe. The subjects taught by grant recipients must be relevant to the needs of the local population and contribute to the area's socio-economic development. For 2005-06, 20 grants were awarded.

Rotary Centers For International Studies

In Peace And Conflict Resolution

The Rotary Foundation has partnered with eight leading universities around the world to establish the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. Each year, Rotary will select up to 60 fellows to study at one of the seven Rotary Centers worldwide. The selected Rotary World Peace Fellows will begin two-year master's-level degree programs in conflict resolution, peace studies, and international relations. Each Rotary district may nominate one candidate for the selection process. The inaugural class of Rotary World Peace Fellows graduated in 2004.

Program Objectives -The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has established the Rotary Centers for International Studies:

to advance research, teaching, publication, and knowledge of issues of peace and goodwill, causes of conflict, and world understanding;

to provide advanced educational opportunities for a group of Rotary World Peace Fellows chosen from various countries and cultures in order to advance knowledge and world understanding among potential future leaders of government, business, education, media, and other professions;

to establish a program through which The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International and the member clubs of Rotary International may become increasingly effective in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, leading to world peace and understanding.

Rotary Peace And Conflict Studies Program

The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program was established to provide professionals from around the world the opportunity to be trained in conflict resolution and mediation strategies and to become better equipped to help prevent and resolve conflict, as well as foster policies and create settings that ensure peace, worldwide. Offered in English, the program is aimed at mid- to upper-level professionals in governments, nongovernmental organizations, and private corporations. Beginning July 2006, the intensive three-month course housed at the newly established Rotary Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand will accept up to 30 program participants per session for two sessions per year. Each session will include both academic learning and practical fieldwork components. The program aims to:

Inspire people to work for a culture of peace and tolerance while enhancing their capacity, knowledge, and skill to do so, in part by generating interaction between practitioners and academics

Provide advanced international educational opportunities for Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program participants chosen from different countries and cultures on the basis of their potential as leaders in government, business, education, media, and other professions

Provide a means for The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians to increase their effectiveness in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, leading to world understanding and peace.